ROCKSTALL NATURE PRESERVE IN THE HOCKING HILLS OF OHIO

THAT'S MY WORLD TUESDAY POST

  JUST A FEW MILES FROM LANCASTER,OHIO IN THE BEAUTIFUL HOCKING HILLS AREA OF OHIO WE HAVE ROCKSTALL NATURE PRESERVE. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE LIVED IN LANCASTER MOST OF MY LIFE THIS IS MY FIRST TRIP TO THIS NATURE PRESERVE.

NOTICE IT SAYS NO ROCK CLIMBING. WELL THAT’S PRETTY FUNNY. WAIT TIL YOU SEE THE “STEPS” YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN. THIS AREA IS OFTEN REFERED TO AS A MINIATURE OLD MANS CAVE

GOING DOWN WAS EASIER THAN COMING BACK UP.. LOL

MINIATURE WATERFALLS

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE STEPS

SEE THE STEPS, THE SWITCHBACK AND NOTICE THE DROP TO THE BOTTOM. WHAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS, “MAYBE I SHOULDN’T BE HERE BY MYSELF.”

ON TO THE SECOND FALLS. ACTUALLY THE THIRD IF YOU COUNT THE MINIATURE FALLS.

OK YOU HAVE SEEN THE THREE DIFFERENT WATERFALLS AND OF COURSE THE STREAM. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE “NATURAL BRIDGES” TO CROSS THE MEANDERING STREAM.

 

OR IF YOU ARE LIKE ME ONE CAN JUST FIND A PLACE TO STEP ACROSS.

NOW FOR SOME SCENERY AND PERSPECTIVE

IF I HAD BEEN HERE MUCH EARLIER IN MY LIFE I MIGHT HAVE CARVED MY NAME INTO THE BLACKHAND SANDSTONE.

APRIL 27TH 1924. I WASN’T EVEN BORN YET. I WISH I HAD MY “FLYING BICYCLE” TO GET OUT OF HERE.

AS ALWAYS, “THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.” TO EXPLORE MORE OF OUR WONDERFUL WORLD VISIT THAT'S MY WORLD TUESDAY 

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE “STEPS” GOING BACK UP LOL

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SOME SPRING EYE CANDY IN LANCASTER,OHIO

MORNING WALK IN LANCASTER,OHIO 04/05/2010

A FEW PHOTOS FROM THE MORNING WALK THEN I’M OFF TO EXPLORE A NEW (NEW TO ME) NATURE PRESERVE “ROCKSTULL NATURE PRESERVE” IN THE HOCKING HILLS AREA OF OHIO

“Johnny Jump-up Viola cornuta Perennial. Returns each spring from same roots, forming expanding clump. Blooms second spring from seed.

Once established, this species often spreads rapidly, but is always loved, not hated for its spreading habits.” WILD FLOWER INFORMATION

The Easter Lamb Cake sure was good eating and As Always Thanks For Stopping By.

Technorati Tags: LANCASTER OHIO,WILD FLOWERS,JOHNNY JUMP UPS,ROCKSTULL NATURE PRESERVE

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL EASTER 04/04/2010

I FOUND EASTER SUNDAY TO BE A GREAT DAY TO REFLECT ON ALL THE BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE.

CAN YOU HEAR THE FROGS CROAKING

AS ALWAYS THANKS FOR STOPPING BY

Technorati Tags: POND,FROGS,EASTER,LANCASTER OHIO,REFLECTIONS

BLUE SKIES OVER LANCASTER FOR SKY WATCH FRIDAY

Blue - Joni Mitchell

What a change a few weeks can make. Here in Lancaster,Ohio we go from gray skies and BLUE BOTTLES to blue skies and white blossoms… YEA……… Visit SKY WATCH FRIDAY to view beautiful skies from all over the world…………..

“Light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquility, understanding, and softness.
Dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.” From the COLOR WHEEL

Photos from the backyard and the Fairgrounds in Lancaster,Ohio (The old Race track)

Hopefully the last of the snow.

One day when I visit a fire tower the skies will be “outstanding” just hasn't happened yet… Thanks for stopping by. ( The fire tower is from our visit to Mohican State Park ) Will have follow up posts or “More about Mohican”

Joe Todd reporting from the TOWER says, “Have a Great SKY WATCH FRIDAY “

Technorati Tags: LANCASTER OHIO,SKYWATCH FRIDAY

PLEASANT HILL LAKE AND DAM & CLEARFORK-MOHICAN RIVER FOR WATERY WEDNESDAY & FACEBOOK FAN WEEKEND.

 

Today for WATERY WEDNESDAY we will start at the Dam & Spillway at Pleasant Hill Lake. The Morning Glory Spillway,named after the flower of the same name is a unique feature of Pleasant Hill Dam. It is one of only two built by the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers. It has never been used. The Spillway has a shaft 76 feet in diameter at the lip a throat diameter of 19 feet.

Hope this is the last ICICLE photo of the season. Moving on to the covered bridge and gorge.

Notice the snow & lack of snow on the two walkways in the photos above. Amazing what the sun can do.

We will follow the bikers from Columbus,Ohio on down the road to the Gorge.

How about a “bird’s eye view?”

 The “HAM” reporting from the exercise room at Mohican State Lodge says Thanks For Stopping By….

Technorati Tags: MOHICAN STATE LODGE,PLEASANT HILL LAKE,DAM,SPILLWAY,GORGE,COVERED BRIDGE,FACEBOOK FAN WEEKEND

Click on the logo for some great scenery. Next time a visit to

The “Old Fire Tower”

MOHICAN STATE PARK LODGE for MY WORLD TUESDAY

About 2 hours from Lancaster,Ohio (taking the slow road) you have Mohican State Park

Recently, Linda and I spent the weekend at the lodge at Mohican State Park for “Facebook Fan Weekend” and what a wonderful weekend it was. So, today for THAT'S MY WORLD TUESDAY we will start our visit to the lodge and park.

The flag and a BALD EAGLE ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) flying overhead greeted us as we arrived at the LODGE.

The lodge is operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts whose operations span the country, and they are a “Green Company.” Xanterra was originally the FRED HARVEY COMPANY which has a rich history of civilizing the old west. I learned about “Fred Harvey Houses” from a fellow blogger.

Top photo my wife Linda being checked in by Tara who is working the front desk. Bottom photo is Matt whose official title is Director of special operations for Ohio State Parks (hope I got that right). Matt takes care of the Facebook Fan Page and twitter page for the parks. Matt you did a great job putting the weekend together. THANK YOU..

  When Fred Harvey started his company he advertised in the East for women to work for him Paying as much as $17.50 per month with free room, board and clean uniforms. Tara how would you like to wear a uniform like that?

Photo courtesy of Cline Collection, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

James Fenimore Cooper visited this area and used the area as a setting for many scenes in his book The Last of the Mohicans.  For the rest of this post will explore the paved well lighted hiking paths in the close vicinity of the lodge.

Great view of PLEASANT HILL LAKE from the lodge. The lake provides 800 surface acres of water and is right in the middle of two major recreation areas; Mohican State Park and Mohican Memorial Forest. Say thanks to The U.S.Army Corps of Engineer's for this great recreational lake.

Linda checking out the Gazebo as she looks back at the lodge and our room (we left the light on). Great balcony with a tremendous view

Taking all those photos is hard work. I think I will take a break. In upcoming posts we will explore the area ( of course there is a fire tower ) and meet several of the naturalist and learn a little about their specialties.  BIRDS,BEES,SNAKES,RAPTORS,and TREES to name a few. Lisa explained how you could spot a DOGwood tree by it’s BARK LOL.. Sorry Lisa I couldn’t resist using that line…AS ALWAYS THANKS FOR STOPPING BY..

OOOPS  I almost forgot the morning we learned about Geocaching from Todd Metz the geocache guy from Guilford Lake State Park

Technorati Tags: MOHICAN STATE PARK,FACEBOOK FAN WEEKEND,PLEASANT HILL LAKE,FRED HARVEY COMPANY,EXPLORE OHIO STATE PARKS

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